PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodnei Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lufi Monkey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco comes into the arena with Uh! Vai Morrer! blaring out of the sound system. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Franco
vs
Monkey

170 cm
20
152 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

167 cm
20
152 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rodnei Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lufi Monkey!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco drives through with a takedown into Monkey's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Monkey blocks nicely.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Monkey blocks nicely.
Monkey keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
Monkey keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Monkey utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Monkey keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.

Monkey has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Franco trying to control but Monkey is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Franco looking to sit in guard and control but Monkey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Franco is striking but Monkey is not phased and passes to half guard.
Franco trying to control but Monkey postures up.

Franco looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Monkey seems to be working for a kimura but Franco defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franco tries to roll over but Monkey keeps him under control.
Monkey sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Monkey prevents Franco from standing back up.
Franco has hold of Monkey's hands but Monkey slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Franco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Franco wants to control but Monkey is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Monkey is working for a submission of some sort.
Franco is trying to stand back up but Monkey is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monkey trying to control from half guard but Franco is working away.
Franco is looking to improve his position.
Monkey seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franco does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Franco is trying to stand back up but Monkey is controlling him

Monkey seems to be looking for submissions.

Franco looking for submissions off his back.
Franco wants to improve his position but Monkey is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to control but Monkey is keeping busy.
Franco gets full guard.
Franco is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Monkey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Monkey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Franco has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Monkey has managed to get both his arms back between Franco's legs - danger averted.
Franco is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Monkey loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Monkey advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodnei Franco dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Monkey throws a shot from downtown. Franco moves away and avoids it.
Some bone on bone action there as Franco checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Franco.

Franco is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Monkey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Franco wants to stand but Monkey is controlling his arm.
Franco taking a break here but Monkey is having none of it and regains half guard.
Monkey slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to control but Monkey is working from the bottom.

Franco has gone for a leg lock! Monkey slips out almost immediately though and dives into Franco's guard.
Monkey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franco's head.
Monkey throwing strikes but missing.
Franco manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Monkey tries to hold on but Franco postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Monkey is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Monkey and Franco has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco wants to stand but Monkey has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

Monkey is looking for a triangle but Franco pushes his legs off easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Monkey is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Monkey has a closed guard, preventing Franco from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco looking to sit in guard and control but Monkey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Monkey lands a couple of elbows.
Monkey postures up.
Monkey trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.

Franco has an active guard here but Monkey has managed to pass into half guard.
Franco looks like he's trying to stand up.
Monkey is thwarting Franco's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to kick Monkey off but Monkey keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Monkey seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franco does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Monkey stops Franco from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monkey is pressing down on Franco's thigh, looking to free his foot. Franco is holding on for now.
Franco wants to get back to his feet.

Monkey is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franco tries to kick Monkey off but Monkey keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franco wants to improve his position but Monkey is controlling well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monkey perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lufi Monkey will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Monkey throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Monkey off to one side.
Franco shoots in but no luck this time.
Monkey shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franco defends it nicely.
Franco has a takedown stuffed.
Franco wants to clinch up but Monkey keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franco closes the distance and clinches up with Monkey, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes Monkey against the cage but Monkey circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodnei Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franco gets a double leg takedown into Monkey's guard.
Franco throws a big elbow that misses.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Monkey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco throws an elbow that misses. Monkey uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franco's guard. Nice move by Monkey!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to control the position.

Franco looking for a triangle here. Monkey is fighting it but it looks tight! Franco pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Monkey is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rodnei Franco!
Rodnei Franco managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, KAISER, into his post fight interview.